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11 By: Truitt (Senate Sponsor - Harris) H.B. No. 2559
22 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2011;
33 April 26, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
44 Business and Commerce; May 3, 2011, reported favorably by the
55 following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 3, 2011, sent to printer.)
66
77
88 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
99 AN ACT
1010 relating to commercial motor vehicle installment sales.
1111 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1212 SECTION 1. Section 14.107(b), Finance Code, is amended to
1313 read as follows:
1414 (b) The finance commission by rule shall set the fees for
1515 licensing and examination, as applicable, under Chapter 342, 347,
1616 348, 351, 353, or 371 at amounts or rates necessary to recover the
1717 costs of administering those chapters. The rules may provide that
1818 the amount of a fee charged to a license holder is based on the
1919 volume of the license holder's regulated business and other key
2020 factors. The commissioner may provide for collection of a single
2121 annual fee from a person licensed under Chapter 342, 347, 348, 351,
2222 or 371 to include amounts due for both licensing and examination.
2323 SECTION 2. Sections 303.001(b) and (c), Finance Code, are
2424 amended to read as follows:
2525 (b) A contract that is subject to Chapter 342, 345, 347,
2626 [or] 348, or 353, including a contract for an open-end account, may,
2727 as an alternative to an interest rate or amount of time price
2828 differential allowed under that chapter, provide for a simple or
2929 precomputed rate or amount of time price differential that does not
3030 exceed the applicable ceiling provided by this chapter or by the
3131 equivalent yield authorized by Chapter 342, 345, 347, [or] 348, or
3232 353.
3333 (c) Except as inconsistent with this chapter, a party to a
3434 contract that is subject to Chapter 342, 345, 347, [or] 348, or 353,
3535 or the party's assignee, has all rights, duties, and obligations
3636 under the applicable chapter, including those relating to refund
3737 credits on prepayment or acceleration.
3838 SECTION 3. Section 303.002, Finance Code, is amended to
3939 read as follows:
4040 Sec. 303.002. WEEKLY CEILING. The parties to a written
4141 agreement may agree to an interest rate, or in an agreement
4242 described by Chapter 345, 347, [or] 348, or 353, an amount of time
4343 price differential producing a rate, that does not exceed the
4444 applicable weekly ceiling.
4545 SECTION 4. Section 303.402(a), Finance Code, is amended to
4646 read as follows:
4747 (a) A person who contracts for, charges, or receives under a
4848 contract subject to Chapter 342, 345, 346, 347, [or] 348, or 353,
4949 including a contract for an open-end account, a rate or amount of
5050 time price differential that exceeds the maximum applicable rate or
5151 amount authorized by the applicable chapter or this chapter is
5252 subject to a penalty for that violation determined under Chapter
5353 349.
5454 SECTION 5. Section 307.051(f), Finance Code, is amended to
5555 read as follows:
5656 (f) Collateral protection insurance does not include
5757 insurance coverage that:
5858 (1) is purchased by the creditor for which the debtor
5959 is not charged;
6060 (2) is purchased at the inception of a credit
6161 transaction in which the debtor is a party or to which the debtor
6262 agrees, whether or not costs are included in a payment plan under
6363 the credit transaction;
6464 (3) is maintained by the creditor for the protection
6565 of collateral that comes into the possession or control of the
6666 creditor through foreclosure, repossession, or a similar event;
6767 (4) is credit insurance, mortgage protection
6868 insurance, insurance issued to cover the life or health of the
6969 debtor, or any other insurance maintained to cover the inability or
7070 failure of the debtor to make payment under the credit agreement;
7171 (5) is title insurance;
7272 (6) is flood insurance required to be placed by
7373 creditors under Section 102, National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
7474 (42 U.S.C. Section 4012a); or
7575 (7) is insurance on a commercial vehicle securing a
7676 retail installment contract under Chapter 353 [348].
7777 SECTION 6. Section 341.502(a), Finance Code, is amended to
7878 read as follows:
7979 (a) A contract for a loan under Chapter 342, a retail
8080 installment transaction under Chapter 348 [other than a contract
8181 for a commercial vehicle], or a home equity loan regulated by the
8282 Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner must be:
8383 (1) written in plain language designed to be easily
8484 understood by the average consumer; and
8585 (2) printed in an easily readable font and type size.
8686 SECTION 7. Section 348.001(1-a), Finance Code, as added by
8787 Chapter 238 (S.B. 1965), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular
8888 Session, 2009, and Section 348.001(2), Finance Code, are amended to
8989 read as follows:
9090 (1-a) "Commercial vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
9191 Section 353.001 [means a motor vehicle that is not used primarily
9292 for personal, family, or household use. The term includes:
9393 [(A) a motor vehicle with a gross vehicular
9494 weight of 10,001 pounds or more;
9595 [(B) a motor vehicle that will be owned by a
9696 corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or
9797 other business entity formed, organized, or registered in this
9898 state, another state, or another country; and
9999 [(C) a motor vehicle that will be part of a fleet
100100 of five or more vehicles owned by the same person].
101101 (2) "Heavy commercial vehicle" has the meaning
102102 assigned by Section 353.001 [means:
103103 [(A) a truck or truck tractor that:
104104 [(i) has a gross vehicular weight of 19,000
105105 pounds or more; and
106106 [(ii) is not used primarily for personal,
107107 family, or household use; or
108108 [(B) a trailer or semitrailer designed for use in
109109 combination with a vehicle described by Paragraph (A)].
110110 SECTION 8. Section 348.0015(a), Finance Code, is amended to
111111 read as follows:
112112 (a) A motor vehicle that is not described by Section
113113 353.001(1)(A) [348.001(1-a)(A)], (B), or (C) or a motor vehicle
114114 that is of a type typically used for personal, family, or household
115115 use, as determined by finance commission rule, is presumed not to be
116116 a commercial vehicle.
117117 SECTION 9. Section 348.006(c), Finance Code, is amended to
118118 read as follows:
119119 (c) For a documentary fee to be included in the principal
120120 balance of a retail installment contract:
121121 (1) the retail seller must charge the documentary fee
122122 to cash buyers and credit buyers;
123123 (2) the documentary fee may not exceed[:
124124 [(A) for a motor vehicle retail installment
125125 contract other than a contract for a commercial vehicle,] a
126126 reasonable amount agreed to by the retail seller and retail buyer
127127 for the documentary services; [or
128128 [(B) for a commercial vehicle retail installment
129129 contract, an amount agreed to in writing by the retail seller and
130130 retail buyer;] and
131131 (3) [except for a buyer's order or retail installment
132132 contract for a commercial vehicle,] the buyer's order and the
133133 retail installment contract must include:
134134 (A) a statement of the amount of the documentary
135135 fee; and
136136 (B) in reasonable proximity to the place in each
137137 where the amount of the documentary fee is disclosed, the following
138138 notice in type that is bold-faced, capitalized, underlined, or
139139 otherwise conspicuously set out from surrounding written material:
140140 "A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE
141141 IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING
142142 DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SALE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE MAY NOT EXCEED A
143143 REASONABLE AMOUNT AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED
144144 BY LAW."
145145 SECTION 10. Section 348.007, Finance Code, is amended by
146146 adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
147147 (d) A retail installment transaction in which a retail buyer
148148 purchases a motor vehicle that is a commercial vehicle is not
149149 subject to this chapter and is subject to Chapter 353 if the retail
150150 installment contract states that Chapter 353 applies.
151151 SECTION 11. Sections 348.104(b) and (c), Finance Code, are
152152 amended to read as follows:
153153 (b) The add-on charge is $7.50 per $100 per year on the
154154 principal balance for a new motor vehicle[, other than a heavy
155155 commercial vehicle,] designated by the manufacturer by a model year
156156 that is not earlier than the year in which the sale is made.
157157 (c) The add-on charge is $10 per $100 per year on the
158158 principal balance for:
159159 (1) a new motor vehicle not covered by Subsection (b);
160160 or
161161 (2) a used motor vehicle designated by the
162162 manufacturer by a model year that is not more than two years before
163163 the year in which the sale is made[; or
164164 [(3) a new or used heavy commercial vehicle designated
165165 by the manufacturer by a model year that is not more than two years
166166 before the year in which the sale is made].
167167 SECTION 12. Section 348.107(a), Finance Code, is amended to
168168 read as follows:
169169 (a) A retail installment contract may provide that if an
170170 installment remains unpaid after the [10th day after the maturity
171171 of the installment for a heavy commercial vehicle or after the] 15th
172172 day after the maturity of the installment [for any other motor
173173 vehicle] the holder may collect:
174174 (1) a delinquency charge that does not exceed five
175175 percent of the amount of the installment; or
176176 (2) interest on the amount of the installment accruing
177177 after the maturity of the installment and until the installment is
178178 paid in full at a rate that does not exceed the maximum rate
179179 authorized for the contract.
180180 SECTION 13. Section 348.109, Finance Code, is amended to
181181 read as follows:
182182 Sec. 348.109. ACCELERATION OF DEBT MATURITY. A retail
183183 installment contract may not authorize the holder to accelerate the
184184 maturity of all or a part of the amount owed under the contract
185185 unless:
186186 (1) the retail buyer is in default in the performance
187187 of any of the buyer's obligations; or
188188 (2) the holder believes in good faith that the
189189 prospect of buyer's payment or performance is impaired[; or
190190 [(3) if the retail installment contract is for a
191191 commercial vehicle, the retail buyer or an affiliate of the retail
192192 buyer is in default in its obligations under another financing
193193 agreement or leasing agreement held by the same holder or an
194194 affiliate of the holder].
195195 SECTION 14. Section 348.120(b), Finance Code, is amended to
196196 read as follows:
197197 (b) On a contract for a motor vehicle [other than a heavy
198198 commercial vehicle] the minimum amount of the refund credit is
199199 computed by:
200200 (1) subtracting an acquisition cost of $25 from the
201201 original time price differential; and
202202 (2) multiplying the amount computed under Subdivision
203203 (1) by the percentage of refund computed under Subsection (d).
204204 SECTION 15. Section 348.213(b), Finance Code, is amended to
205205 read as follows:
206206 (b) A policy of insurance described by Subsection (a) must
207207 comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 348.201,
208208 348.203, [and] 348.208, and[, except if the policy relates to a
209209 retail installment contract for a commercial vehicle, Section]
210210 348.209.
211211 SECTION 16. Section 348.413(b), Finance Code, is amended to
212212 read as follows:
213213 (b) The holder may charge for the transfer of equity an
214214 amount that does not exceed[:
215215 [(1)] $25 [for a motor vehicle that is not a heavy
216216 commercial vehicle; or
217217 [(2) $50 for a heavy commercial vehicle].
218218 SECTION 17. Subtitle B, Title 4, Finance Code, is amended by
219219 adding Chapter 353 to read as follows:
220220 CHAPTER 353. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE INSTALLMENT SALES
221221 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
222222 Sec. 353.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
223223 (1) "Commercial vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is
224224 not used primarily for personal, family, or household use. The term
225225 includes:
226226 (A) a motor vehicle with a gross vehicular weight
227227 of 10,001 pounds or more;
228228 (B) a motor vehicle that will be owned by a
229229 corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or
230230 other business entity formed, organized, or registered in this
231231 state, another state, or another country; and
232232 (C) a motor vehicle that will be part of a fleet
233233 of five or more vehicles owned by the same person.
234234 (2) "Debt cancellation agreement" means an agreement
235235 of the holder of the retail installment contract to waive:
236236 (A) all or part of the difference between the
237237 amount owed under a retail installment contract and the amount paid
238238 under a physical damage insurance policy maintained by the retail
239239 buyer or its assign, in the event of a total loss or theft of the
240240 commercial vehicle;
241241 (B) all or part of the amount owed under the
242242 retail installment contract, in the event of the death of the retail
243243 buyer; or
244244 (C) one or more payments owed under the retail
245245 installment contract, in the event of the disability of the retail
246246 buyer.
247247 (3) "Heavy commercial vehicle" means:
248248 (A) a commercial vehicle that has a gross
249249 vehicular weight of 19,000 pounds or more; or
250250 (B) a trailer or semitrailer designed for use in
251251 combination with a vehicle described by Paragraph (A).
252252 (4) "Holder" means a person who is:
253253 (A) a retail seller; or
254254 (B) the assignee or transferee of a retail
255255 installment contract.
256256 (5) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
257257 Section 348.001.
258258 (6) "Precomputed earnings method" means a method of
259259 computing the time price differential in which the time price
260260 differential is computed at the inception of the contract based on
261261 the principal balance for the full contract term, as if the
262262 principal balance under the contract will not decline over the term
263263 of the contract, and in which the retail buyer agrees to pay the
264264 total of payments that includes both the principal balance of the
265265 contract and the time price differential.
266266 (7) "Retail buyer" means a person who purchases or
267267 agrees to purchase a commercial vehicle from a retail seller in a
268268 retail installment transaction.
269269 (8) "Retail installment contract" means one or more
270270 instruments entered into in this state that evidence a retail
271271 installment transaction. The term includes a security agreement and
272272 a document that evidences a bailment or lease described by Section
273273 353.003.
274274 (9) "Retail installment transaction" means a
275275 transaction in which a retail buyer purchases a commercial vehicle
276276 from a retail seller other than principally for the purpose of
277277 resale and agrees with the retail seller to pay part or all of the
278278 cash price in one or more deferred installments.
279279 (10) "Retail seller" means a person in the business of
280280 selling commercial vehicles to retail buyers in retail installment
281281 transactions.
282282 (11) "Scheduled installment earnings method" means a
283283 method of computing the time price differential by applying a daily
284284 rate to the unpaid principal balance as if each scheduled payment
285285 will be paid on the payment's scheduled installment date.
286286 (12) "Time price differential" means the total amount
287287 added to the principal balance to determine the balance of the
288288 retail buyer's indebtedness under a retail installment contract.
289289 (13) "True daily earnings method" means a method of
290290 computing the time price differential by applying a daily rate to
291291 the unpaid principal balance based on the actual payment date as
292292 provided by Section 353.016.
293293 Sec. 353.002. PRESUMPTION REGARDING NONCOMMERCIAL
294294 VEHICLES; EXCEPTION. (a) A motor vehicle that is not described by
295295 Section 353.001(1)(A), (B), or (C) or a motor vehicle that is of a
296296 type typically used for personal, family, or household use, as
297297 determined by finance commission rule, is presumed not to be a
298298 commercial vehicle.
299299 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if a retail buyer
300300 represents in writing that a motor vehicle is not for personal,
301301 family, or household use, or that the vehicle is for commercial use,
302302 a retail seller or holder may rely on that representation unless the
303303 retail seller or holder, as applicable, has actual knowledge that
304304 the representation is not true.
305305 Sec. 353.003. BAILMENT OR LEASE AS RETAIL INSTALLMENT
306306 TRANSACTION. (a) A bailment or lease of a commercial vehicle is a
307307 retail installment transaction if the bailee or lessee:
308308 (1) contracts to pay as compensation for use of the
309309 vehicle an amount that is substantially equal to or exceeds the
310310 value of the vehicle; and
311311 (2) on full compliance with the bailment or lease is
312312 bound to become the owner or, for no or nominal additional
313313 consideration, has the option to become the owner of the vehicle.
314314 (b) An agreement for the lease of a commercial vehicle does
315315 not create a retail installment transaction by merely providing
316316 that the rental price is permitted or required to be adjusted under
317317 the agreement as determined by the amount realized on the sale or
318318 other disposition of the vehicle, as provided by Section 501.112,
319319 Transportation Code.
320320 Sec. 353.004. CLASSIFICATION AS RETAIL INSTALLMENT
321321 TRANSACTION UNAFFECTED. A transaction is not excluded as a retail
322322 installment transaction because:
323323 (1) the retail seller arranges to transfer the retail
324324 buyer's obligation;
325325 (2) the amount of any charge in the transaction is
326326 determined by reference to a chart or other information furnished
327327 by a financing institution;
328328 (3) a form for all or part of the retail installment
329329 contract is furnished by a financing institution; or
330330 (4) the credit standing of the retail buyer is
331331 evaluated by a financing institution.
332332 Sec. 353.005. CASH PRICE. (a) The cash price is the price
333333 at which the retail seller offers in the ordinary course of business
334334 to sell for cash the goods or services that are subject to the
335335 transaction. An advertised price does not necessarily establish a
336336 cash price.
337337 (b) The cash price does not include any finance charge.
338338 (c) At the retail seller's option, the cash price may
339339 include:
340340 (1) the price of accessories;
341341 (2) the price of services related to the sale;
342342 (3) the price of service contracts;
343343 (4) taxes; and
344344 (5) fees for license, title, and registration.
345345 Sec. 353.006. ITEMIZED CHARGE. An amount in a retail
346346 installment contract is an itemized charge if the amount is not
347347 included in the cash price and is the amount of:
348348 (1) fees for registration, certificate of title, and
349349 license and any additional registration fees charged by a full
350350 service deputy under Section 502.114, Transportation Code;
351351 (2) any taxes;
352352 (3) fees or charges prescribed by law and connected
353353 with the sale or inspection of the commercial vehicle;
354354 (4) charges authorized for insurance, service
355355 contracts, and warranties by Subchapter C; and
356356 (5) advances or payments authorized under Section
357357 353.402(b) or (c) made by the retail seller to or for the benefit of
358358 the retail buyer.
359359 Sec. 353.007. ADDITIONAL CHARGES PERMITTED. (a) In
360360 addition to the amounts allowed under Sections 353.005 and 353.006,
361361 the following amounts may be included as an itemized charge or in
362362 the cash price in a retail installment contract for a commercial
363363 vehicle:
364364 (1) any fees prescribed by law;
365365 (2) any amounts charged by a titling or registration
366366 service relating to the sale;
367367 (3) any other amount agreed to by the retail buyer and
368368 retail seller, including amounts payable to the retail seller or
369369 another person for the provision of goods or services relating to:
370370 (A) the commercial vehicle;
371371 (B) the sale or use of the commercial vehicle; or
372372 (C) the retail buyer's business in which the
373373 commercial vehicle will be used; and
374374 (4) an amount paid to the retail seller or other person
375375 as consideration for a debt cancellation agreement.
376376 (b) If a charge for a debt cancellation agreement is
377377 included in the contract, the contract and debt cancellation
378378 agreement must each conspicuously disclose that the debt
379379 cancellation agreement is optional.
380380 (c) Notwithstanding any other law, a charge for a debt
381381 cancellation agreement is not a charge for insurance, and the sale,
382382 provision, or waiving of a balance owed or other action relating to
383383 a debt cancellation agreement is not considered insurance or
384384 engaging in the business of insurance.
385385 Sec. 353.008. PRINCIPAL BALANCE; INCLUSION OF DOCUMENTARY
386386 FEE. (a) The principal balance under a retail installment contract
387387 is computed by:
388388 (1) adding:
389389 (A) the cash price of the commercial vehicle;
390390 (B) each amount included in the retail
391391 installment contract for an itemized charge; and
392392 (C) subject to Subsection (c), a documentary fee
393393 for services rendered for or on behalf of the retail buyer in
394394 handling and processing documents relating to the sale of the
395395 commercial vehicle; and
396396 (2) subtracting from the results under Subdivision (1)
397397 the amount of the retail buyer's down payment in money, goods, or
398398 both.
399399 (b) The computation of the principal balance may include an
400400 amount authorized under Section 353.402(b).
401401 (c) For a documentary fee to be included in the principal
402402 balance of a retail installment contract:
403403 (1) the retail seller must charge the documentary fee
404404 to cash buyers and credit buyers; and
405405 (2) the documentary fee may not exceed an amount
406406 agreed to in writing by the retail seller and retail buyer.
407407 Sec. 353.009. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) Except as
408408 provided by this section, this chapter applies to a retail
409409 installment transaction for a commercial vehicle if the retail
410410 installment contract states that this chapter applies.
411411 (b) If a retail installment contract does not state that
412412 this chapter applies, the transaction is governed by Chapter 348,
413413 and this chapter does not apply.
414414 (c) This chapter does not affect or apply to a loan made or
415415 the business of making loans under other law of this state and does
416416 not affect a rule of law applicable to a retail installment sale
417417 that is not a retail installment transaction.
418418 (d) The provisions of this chapter defining specific rates
419419 and amounts of charges and requiring certain credit disclosures to
420420 be made control over any contrary law of this state respecting those
421421 subjects.
422422 Sec. 353.010. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER STATUTES TO RETAIL
423423 INSTALLMENT TRANSACTION. (a) A loan or interest statute of this
424424 state, other than Chapter 303, does not apply to a retail
425425 installment transaction subject to this chapter.
426426 (b) Except as provided by this chapter, an applicable
427427 statute, including Title 1 and Chapter 322, Business & Commerce
428428 Code, or a principle of common law continues to apply to a retail
429429 installment transaction unless it is displaced by this chapter.
430430 Sec. 353.011. FEDERAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. If a
431431 disclosure requirement of this chapter and one of a federal law,
432432 including a regulation or an interpretation of federal law, are
433433 inconsistent or conflict, federal law controls and the inconsistent
434434 or conflicting disclosures required by this chapter need not be
435435 given.
436436 Sec. 353.012. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ALLOWED IN CONTRACT.
437437 Information not required by this chapter may be included in a retail
438438 installment contract.
439439 Sec. 353.013. ORDER OF ITEMS IN CONTRACT. Items required by
440440 this chapter to be in a retail installment contract are not required
441441 to be stated in the order set forth in this chapter.
442442 Sec. 353.014. APPLICABILITY OF INSURANCE PREMIUM FINANCING
443443 PROVISIONS. Chapter 651, Insurance Code, does not apply to a retail
444444 installment transaction.
445445 Sec. 353.015. CONDITIONAL DELIVERY AGREEMENT. (a) In this
446446 section, "conditional delivery agreement" means a contract between
447447 a retail seller and prospective retail buyer under the terms of
448448 which the retail seller allows the prospective retail buyer the use
449449 and benefit of a commercial vehicle for a specified term.
450450 (b) A retail seller and prospective retail buyer may enter
451451 into a conditional delivery agreement.
452452 (c) A conditional delivery agreement is:
453453 (1) an enforceable contract; and
454454 (2) void on the execution of a retail installment
455455 contract between the parties to the conditional delivery agreement
456456 for the sale of the commercial vehicle that is the subject of the
457457 conditional delivery agreement.
458458 (d) A conditional delivery agreement may only confer rights
459459 consistent with this section and may not confer any legal or
460460 equitable rights of ownership, including ownership of the
461461 commercial vehicle that is the subject of the conditional delivery
462462 agreement.
463463 (e) A conditional delivery agreement may not exceed a term
464464 of 15 days.
465465 (f) If a prospective retail buyer tenders to a retail seller
466466 a trade-in motor vehicle in connection with a conditional delivery
467467 agreement:
468468 (1) the parties must agree on the value of the trade-in
469469 motor vehicle;
470470 (2) the conditional delivery agreement must contain
471471 the agreed value of the trade-in motor vehicle described by
472472 Subdivision (1); and
473473 (3) the retail seller must use reasonable care to
474474 conserve the trade-in motor vehicle while the vehicle is in the
475475 retail seller's possession.
476476 (g) If the parties to a conditional delivery agreement do
477477 not subsequently enter into a retail installment contract for the
478478 sale of the commercial vehicle that is the subject of the
479479 conditional delivery agreement, the retail seller shall, not later
480480 than the seventh day after termination of the conditional delivery
481481 agreement:
482482 (1) deliver to the prospective retail buyer any
483483 trade-in motor vehicle that the prospective retail buyer tendered
484484 in connection with the conditional delivery agreement in the same
485485 or substantially the same condition as it was at the time of
486486 execution of the agreement and shall return any down payment or
487487 other consideration received from the prospective retail buyer in
488488 connection with the agreement; or
489489 (2) if the trade-in motor vehicle cannot be returned
490490 in the same or substantially the same condition as it was at the
491491 time of execution of the conditional delivery agreement, deliver to
492492 the prospective retail buyer a sum of money equal to the agreed
493493 value of the trade-in motor vehicle as described by Subsection (f)
494494 and shall return any down payment or other consideration described
495495 by Subdivision (1).
496496 (h) Any money that a retail seller is obligated to provide a
497497 prospective retail buyer under Subsection (g) must be tendered at
498498 the same time that the trade-in motor vehicle is delivered for
499499 return to the prospective retail buyer or when the trade-in motor
500500 vehicle would have been delivered if the vehicle was damaged or
501501 could not be returned.
502502 (i) If a prospective retail buyer returns a commercial
503503 vehicle under a conditional delivery agreement at the request of
504504 the retail seller, the retail seller, notwithstanding the period
505505 prescribed by Subsection (g), must return the trade-in vehicle at
506506 the same time that the commercial vehicle under the conditional
507507 delivery agreement is returned by the prospective retail buyer.
508508 (j) The prospective retail buyer shall return the
509509 commercial vehicle received under the conditional delivery
510510 agreement in the same or substantially the same condition as it was
511511 at the time of the execution of the conditional delivery agreement.
512512 (k) An amount paid or required to be paid by the retail
513513 seller under Subsection (g) is subject to review by the
514514 commissioner. If the commissioner determines that the retail
515515 seller in fact owes the prospective retail buyer a certain amount
516516 under Subsection (g), the commissioner may order the retail seller
517517 to pay the amount to the prospective retail buyer. If the trade-in
518518 motor vehicle is not returned by the retail seller in accordance
519519 with this section and the retail seller does not pay the prospective
520520 retail buyer an amount equal to the agreed value of the trade-in
521521 motor vehicle within the period prescribed by this section, the
522522 commissioner may assess an administrative penalty against the
523523 retail seller in an amount that is reasonable in relation to the
524524 value of the trade-in motor vehicle. The commissioner shall
525525 provide notice to the retail seller and the prospective retail
526526 buyer of the commissioner's determination under this subsection.
527527 (l) Not later than the 30th day after the date the parties
528528 receive notice of the commissioner's determination under
529529 Subsection (k), the retail seller or prospective retail buyer may
530530 file with the commissioner an appeal of the commissioner's
531531 determination requesting a time and place for a hearing before a
532532 hearings officer designated by the commissioner. A hearing under
533533 this subsection is governed by Chapter 2001, Government Code.
534534 After the hearing, based on the findings of fact, conclusions of
535535 law, and recommendations of the hearings officer, the commissioner
536536 shall enter a final order.
537537 (m) A person who files an appeal under Subsection (l) is
538538 required to pay a deposit to secure the payment of the costs of the
539539 hearing in a reasonable amount as determined by the commissioner,
540540 unless the person cannot afford to pay the deposit and files an
541541 affidavit to that effect with the hearings officer in the form and
542542 content prescribed by finance commission rule. The entire deposit
543543 must be refunded to the person if the person prevails at the
544544 hearing. If the person does not prevail, any portion of the deposit
545545 in excess of the costs of the hearing assessed against the person is
546546 refundable.
547547 (n) Notice of the commissioner's final order under
548548 Subsection (l), given to the person in accordance with Chapter
549549 2001, Government Code, must include a statement of the person's
550550 right to judicial review of the order.
551551 (o) The hearings officer may order the retail seller or the
552552 prospective retail buyer, or both, to pay reasonable expenses
553553 incurred by the commissioner in connection with obtaining a final
554554 order under Subsection (l), including attorney's fees,
555555 investigative costs, and witness fees.
556556 (p) This section does not:
557557 (1) apply to a bailment agreement under Section
558558 353.003; or
559559 (2) create a private right of action.
560560 (q) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the
561561 commissioner has exclusive jurisdiction to enforce this section.
562562 Sec. 353.016. COMPUTATION OF TIME PRICE DIFFERENTIAL USING
563563 TRUE DAILY EARNINGS METHOD. Under the true daily earnings method,
564564 the earned time price differential is computed by multiplying the
565565 daily rate of the time price differential by the number of days the
566566 actual unpaid principal balance is outstanding. Under this method:
567567 (1) a payment is credited at the time received, with a
568568 payment received before the scheduled installment date resulting in
569569 a greater reduction in the unpaid principal balance than otherwise
570570 scheduled, and a payment received after the scheduled installment
571571 date resulting in less of a reduction in the unpaid principal
572572 balance than otherwise scheduled;
573573 (2) a partial payment is applied first to time price
574574 differential with any remainder applied to the unpaid principal
575575 balance; and
576576 (3) accrued but unpaid time price differential is not:
577577 (A) added to the unpaid principal balance; or
578578 (B) compounded.
579579 [Sections 353.017-353.100 reserved for expansion]
580580 SUBCHAPTER B. RETAIL INSTALLMENT CONTRACT
581581 Sec. 353.101. RETAIL INSTALLMENT CONTRACT GENERAL
582582 REQUIREMENTS. (a) A retail installment contract is required for
583583 each retail installment transaction in which the retail buyer is
584584 purchasing a commercial vehicle. A retail installment contract may
585585 be more than one document.
586586 (b) A retail installment contract must be:
587587 (1) in writing;
588588 (2) dated;
589589 (3) signed by the retail buyer and retail seller; and
590590 (4) completed as to all essential provisions before it
591591 is signed by the retail buyer except as provided by Subsection (d).
592592 (c) The printed part of a retail installment contract, other
593593 than instructions for completion, must be in at least eight-point
594594 type unless a different size of type is required under this
595595 subchapter.
596596 (d) If the commercial vehicle is not delivered when the
597597 retail installment contract is executed, the following information
598598 may be inserted after the contract is executed:
599599 (1) the identifying numbers or marks of the vehicle or
600600 similar information; and
601601 (2) the due date of the first installment.
602602 Sec. 353.102. CONTRACT CONDITIONED ON SUBSEQUENT
603603 ASSIGNMENT PROHIBITED. (a) A retail installment contract may not
604604 be conditioned on the subsequent assignment of the contract to a
605605 holder.
606606 (b) A provision in violation of this section is void. This
607607 subsection does not affect the validity of other provisions of the
608608 contract that may be given effect without the voided provision, and
609609 to that extent those provisions are severable.
610610 (c) This section does not create a private right of action.
611611 (d) The commissioner has exclusive jurisdiction to enforce
612612 this section.
613613 Sec. 353.103. TIME PRICE DIFFERENTIAL FOR RETAIL
614614 INSTALLMENT CONTRACT. (a) A retail installment contract may
615615 provide for:
616616 (1) any amount of time price differential permitted
617617 under Section 353.104, 353.105, or 353.106; or
618618 (2) any rate of time price differential not exceeding
619619 a yield permitted under Section 353.104, 353.105, or 353.106.
620620 (b) The time price differential may be computed using the:
621621 (1) precomputed earnings method;
622622 (2) scheduled installment earnings method; or
623623 (3) true daily earnings method.
624624 Sec. 353.104. TIME PRICE DIFFERENTIAL FOR CONTRACT WITH
625625 EQUAL MONTHLY SUCCESSIVE PAYMENTS. (a) A retail installment
626626 contract that is payable in substantially equal successive monthly
627627 installments beginning one month after the date of the contract may
628628 provide for a time price differential that does not exceed the
629629 add-on charge provided by this section.
630630 (b) The add-on charge is $7.50 per $100 per year on the
631631 principal balance for a new commercial vehicle, other than a heavy
632632 commercial vehicle, designated by the manufacturer by a model year
633633 that is not earlier than the year in which the sale is made.
634634 (c) The add-on charge is $10 per $100 per year on the
635635 principal balance for:
636636 (1) a new commercial vehicle not covered by Subsection
637637 (b);
638638 (2) a used commercial vehicle designated by the
639639 manufacturer by a model year that is not more than two years before
640640 the year in which the sale is made; or
641641 (3) a new or used heavy commercial vehicle designated
642642 by the manufacturer by a model year that is not more than two years
643643 before the year in which the sale is made.
644644 (d) The add-on charge is $12.50 per $100 per year on the
645645 principal balance for a used commercial vehicle not covered by
646646 Subsection (c) that is a commercial vehicle designated by the
647647 manufacturer by a model year that is not more than four years before
648648 the year in which the sale is made.
649649 (e) For a used commercial vehicle not covered by Subsection
650650 (c) or (d), the add-on charge is:
651651 (1) $15 per $100 per year on the principal balance; or
652652 (2) $18 per $100 per year on the principal balance if
653653 the principal balance under the retail installment contract does
654654 not exceed $300.
655655 (f) The time price differential is computed on the original
656656 principal balance under the retail installment contract from the
657657 date of the contract until the maturity of the final installment,
658658 notwithstanding that the balance is payable in installments.
659659 (g) If the retail installment contract is payable for a
660660 period that is shorter or longer than a year or is for an amount that
661661 is less or greater than $100, the amount of the maximum time price
662662 differential computed under this section is decreased or increased
663663 proportionately.
664664 (h) For the purpose of a computation under this section, 16
665665 or more days of a month may be considered a full month.
666666 Sec. 353.105. USE OF OPTIONAL CEILING. As an alternative to
667667 the maximum rate or amount authorized for a time price differential
668668 under Section 353.104 or 353.106, a retail installment contract may
669669 provide for a rate or amount of time price differential that does
670670 not exceed the rate or amount authorized by Chapter 303.
671671 Sec. 353.106. TIME PRICE DIFFERENTIAL FOR OTHER CONTRACTS.
672672 A retail installment contract that is payable other than in
673673 substantially equal successive monthly installments or the first
674674 installment of which is not payable one month from the date of the
675675 contract may provide for a time price differential that does not
676676 exceed an amount that, having due regard for the schedule of
677677 payments, provides the same effective return as if the contract
678678 were payable in substantially equal successive monthly
679679 installments beginning one month from the date of the contract.
680680 Sec. 353.107. CHARGE FOR DEFAULT IN PAYMENT OF INSTALLMENT.
681681 (a) A retail installment contract may provide that if an
682682 installment remains unpaid after the 10th day after the maturity of
683683 the installment for a heavy commercial vehicle or after the 15th day
684684 after the maturity of the installment for any other commercial
685685 vehicle the holder may collect:
686686 (1) a delinquency charge that does not exceed five
687687 percent of the amount of the installment; or
688688 (2) interest on the amount of the installment accruing
689689 after the maturity of the installment and until the installment is
690690 paid in full at a rate that does not exceed the maximum rate
691691 authorized for the contract.
692692 (b) A retail installment contract that provides for the true
693693 daily earnings method or the scheduled installment earnings method
694694 may provide for the delinquency charge authorized by Subsection
695695 (a)(1), the interest authorized by Subsection (a)(2), or both.
696696 (c) Only one delinquency charge under Subsection (a)(1) may
697697 be collected on an installment under this section regardless of the
698698 duration of the default.
699699 Sec. 353.108. CHARGES FOR COLLECTING DEBT. A retail
700700 installment contract may provide for the payment of:
701701 (1) reasonable attorney's fees if the contract is
702702 referred for collection to an attorney who is not a salaried
703703 employee of the holder;
704704 (2) court costs and disbursements; and
705705 (3) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
706706 connection with the repossession or sequestration of the commercial
707707 vehicle securing the payment of the contract or foreclosure of a
708708 security interest in the vehicle, including the costs of storing,
709709 reconditioning, and reselling the vehicle, subject to the standards
710710 of good faith and commercial reasonableness set by Title 1,
711711 Business & Commerce Code.
712712 Sec. 353.109. ACCELERATION OF DEBT MATURITY. A retail
713713 installment contract may not authorize the holder to accelerate the
714714 maturity of all or a part of the amount owed under the contract
715715 unless:
716716 (1) the retail buyer is in default in the performance
717717 of any of the buyer's obligations;
718718 (2) the holder believes in good faith that the
719719 prospect of the buyer's payment or performance is impaired; or
720720 (3) the retail buyer or an affiliate of the retail
721721 buyer is in default in its obligations under another financing
722722 agreement or leasing agreement held by the same holder or an
723723 affiliate of the holder.
724724 Sec. 353.110. DELIVERY OF COPY OF CONTRACT. A retail seller
725725 shall:
726726 (1) deliver to the retail buyer a copy of the retail
727727 installment contract as accepted by the retail seller; or
728728 (2) mail to the retail buyer at the address shown on
729729 the retail installment contract a copy of the retail installment
730730 contract as accepted by the retail seller.
731731 Sec. 353.111. BUYER'S RIGHT TO RESCIND CONTRACT. Until the
732732 retail seller complies with Section 353.110, a retail buyer who has
733733 not received delivery of the commercial vehicle is entitled to:
734734 (1) rescind the contract;
735735 (2) receive a refund of all payments made under or in
736736 contemplation of the contract; and
737737 (3) receive the return of all goods traded in to the
738738 retail seller under or in contemplation of the contract or, if those
739739 goods cannot be returned, to receive the value of those goods.
740740 Sec. 353.112. BUYER'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DELIVERY OF
741741 CONTRACT COPY. (a) Any retail buyer's acknowledgment of delivery
742742 of a copy of the retail installment contract must:
743743 (1) be in at least 10-point type that is boldfaced,
744744 capitalized, or underlined or otherwise conspicuously set out from
745745 the surrounding written material; and
746746 (2) appear directly above the buyer's signature.
747747 (b) Any retail buyer's acknowledgment conforming to this
748748 section of delivery of a copy of the retail installment contract is,
749749 in an action or proceeding by or against a holder of the contract
750750 who was without knowledge to the contrary when the holder purchased
751751 it, conclusive proof:
752752 (1) that the copy was delivered to the buyer;
753753 (2) that the contract did not contain a blank space
754754 that was required to have been completed under this chapter when the
755755 contract was signed by the buyer; and
756756 (3) of compliance with Sections 353.011, 353.101,
757757 353.205, 353.403, 353.404, and 353.405.
758758 Sec. 353.113. AMENDMENT OF RETAIL INSTALLMENT CONTRACT. On
759759 request by a retail buyer, the holder may agree to one or more
760760 amendments to the retail installment contract to:
761761 (1) extend or defer the scheduled due date of all or a
762762 part of one or more installments; or
763763 (2) renew, restate, or reschedule the unpaid balance
764764 under the contract.
765765 Sec. 353.114. CHARGES FOR DEFERRING INSTALLMENT. (a) If a
766766 retail installment contract is amended to defer all or a part of one
767767 or more installments for not longer than three months, the holder
768768 may collect from the retail buyer:
769769 (1) an amount computed on the amount deferred for the
770770 period of deferment at a rate that does not exceed the effective
771771 return for time price differential permitted for a monthly payment
772772 retail installment contract; and
773773 (2) the amount of the additional cost to the holder
774774 for:
775775 (A) premiums for continuing in force any
776776 insurance coverages provided for by the contract; and
777777 (B) any additional necessary official fees.
778778 (b) The minimum charge under Subsection (a)(1) is $1.
779779 Sec. 353.115. CHARGE FOR OTHER AMENDMENT. (a) If the
780780 unpaid balance of a retail installment contract is extended,
781781 renewed, restated, or rescheduled under this subchapter and Section
782782 353.114 does not apply, the holder may collect an amount computed on
783783 the principal balance of the amended contract for the term of the
784784 amended contract at the time price differential for a retail
785785 installment contract that is applicable after reclassifying the
786786 commercial vehicle by its model year at the time of the amendment.
787787 (b) The principal balance of the amended contract is
788788 computed by:
789789 (1) adding:
790790 (A) the unpaid balance as of the date of
791791 amendment;
792792 (B) the cost of any insurance incidental to the
793793 amendment;
794794 (C) the amount of each additional necessary
795795 official fee; and
796796 (D) the amount of each accrued delinquency or
797797 collection charge; and
798798 (2) if the time price differential was computed using
799799 the precomputed earnings method or the scheduled installment
800800 earnings method, subtracting from the total computed under
801801 Subdivision (1) an amount equal to the prepayment refund credit
802802 required by Section 353.120 or 353.121, as applicable.
803803 (c) Subsection (b)(2) does not apply to a retail installment
804804 contract in which the time price differential is computed using the
805805 true daily earnings method.
806806 (d) The provisions of this chapter relating to acquisition
807807 costs under the refund schedule under Section 353.120 do not apply
808808 in computing the principal balance of the amended contract.
809809 Sec. 353.116. CONFIRMATION OF AMENDMENT. An amendment to a
810810 retail installment contract must be confirmed in a writing signed
811811 by the retail buyer. The holder shall:
812812 (1) deliver a copy of the confirmation to the buyer; or
813813 (2) mail a copy of the confirmation to the buyer at the
814814 buyer's most recent address shown on the records of the holder.
815815 Sec. 353.117. CONTRACT AFTER AMENDMENT. After amendment
816816 the retail installment contract is the original contract and each
817817 amendment to the original contract.
818818 Sec. 353.118. PREPAYMENT OF CONTRACT. A retail buyer may
819819 prepay a retail installment contract in full at any time before
820820 maturity. This section prevails over a conflicting provision of the
821821 contract.
822822 Sec. 353.119. REFUND CREDIT ON PREPAYMENT. (a) This
823823 section does not apply to a retail installment contract in which the
824824 time price differential is computed using the true daily earnings
825825 method.
826826 (b) If a retail buyer prepays a retail installment contract
827827 in full or if the holder of the contract demands payment of the
828828 unpaid balance of the contract in full before the contract's final
829829 installment is due and the time price differential is computed
830830 using the precomputed earnings method or the scheduled installment
831831 earnings method, the buyer is entitled to receive a refund credit as
832832 provided by Section 353.120 or 353.121, as applicable.
833833 Sec. 353.120. AMOUNT OF REFUND CREDIT FOR MONTHLY
834834 INSTALLMENT CONTRACT. (a) This section:
835835 (1) applies only to a refund credit on the prepayment
836836 of a retail installment contract that is payable in substantially
837837 equal successive monthly installments beginning one month after the
838838 date of the contract; and
839839 (2) does not apply to a retail installment contract in
840840 which the time price differential is computed using the true daily
841841 earnings method or the scheduled installment earnings method.
842842 (b) On a contract for a commercial vehicle other than a
843843 heavy commercial vehicle the minimum amount of the refund credit is
844844 computed by:
845845 (1) subtracting an acquisition cost of $25 from the
846846 original time price differential; and
847847 (2) multiplying the amount computed under Subdivision
848848 (1) by the percentage of refund computed under Subsection (d).
849849 (c) On a contract for a heavy commercial vehicle the minimum
850850 amount of the refund credit is computed by:
851851 (1) multiplying the amount of the original time price
852852 differential by the percentage of refund computed under Subsection
853853 (d); and
854854 (2) subtracting an acquisition cost of $150 from the
855855 amount computed under Subdivision (1).
856856 (d) The percentage of refund is computed by:
857857 (1) computing the sum of all of the monthly balances
858858 under the contract's schedule of payments; and
859859 (2) dividing the amount computed under Subdivision (1)
860860 into the sum of the unpaid monthly balances under the contract's
861861 schedule of payments beginning:
862862 (A) on the first day, after the date of the
863863 prepayment or demand for payment in full, that is the date of a
864864 month that corresponds to the date of the month that the first
865865 installment is due under the contract; or
866866 (B) if the prepayment or demand for payment in
867867 full is made before the first installment date under the contract,
868868 one month after the next monthly anniversary date of the contract
869869 occurring after the prepayment or demand.
870870 (e) A refund credit is not required if the amount of the
871871 refund credit is less than $1.
872872 Sec. 353.121. REFUND ON CONTRACTS USING SCHEDULED
873873 INSTALLMENT EARNINGS METHOD. (a) This section:
874874 (1) applies to a retail installment contract:
875875 (A) that includes precomputed time price
876876 differential; and
877877 (B) to which Section 353.120 does not apply; and
878878 (2) does not apply to a retail installment contract in
879879 which the time price differential is computed using the true daily
880880 earnings method.
881881 (b) If a retail installment contract is prepaid in full or
882882 if the holder demands payment in full of the unpaid balance before
883883 final maturity of the contract, the holder earns time price
884884 differential for the period beginning on the date of the contract
885885 and ending on the date of the earlier of the prepayment or demand,
886886 in an amount that does not exceed the amount allowed by this
887887 section.
888888 (c) If prepayment in full or demand for payment in full
889889 occurs during an installment period, the holder may retain, in
890890 addition to time price differential that accrued during any elapsed
891891 installment periods, an amount computed by:
892892 (1) multiplying the simple annual rate under the
893893 contract by the unpaid principal balance of the contract determined
894894 according to the schedule of payments to be outstanding on the
895895 preceding installment due date;
896896 (2) dividing 365 into the product computed under
897897 Subdivision (1); and
898898 (3) multiplying the number of days in the period,
899899 beginning on the day after the installment due date and ending on
900900 the date of the earlier of the prepayment or demand, by the result
901901 obtained under Subdivision (2).
902902 (d) In addition to the earned time price differential
903903 computed under this section, the holder may also earn a $150
904904 acquisition fee for a heavy commercial vehicle, or a $25
905905 acquisition fee for other commercial vehicles, if the sum of the
906906 earned time price differential and the acquisition fee does not
907907 exceed the time price differential disclosed in the contract.
908908 (e) The holder shall refund or credit, as applicable, to the
909909 retail buyer the amount computed by subtracting the total amount
910910 earned or retained under Subsections (b), (c), and (d) from the
911911 total amount of time price differential contracted for and
912912 precomputed in the contract.
913913 Sec. 353.122. REINSTATEMENT OF CONTRACT AFTER DEMAND FOR
914914 PAYMENT. After a demand for payment in full under a retail
915915 installment contract, the retail buyer and holder of the contract
916916 may:
917917 (1) agree to reinstate the contract; and
918918 (2) amend the contract as provided by Section 353.113.
919919 [Sections 353.123-353.200 reserved for expansion]
920920 SUBCHAPTER C. INSURANCE
921921 Sec. 353.201. PROPERTY INSURANCE. (a) A holder may require
922922 a retail buyer to insure the commercial vehicle purchased under a
923923 retail installment transaction and accessories and related goods
924924 subject to the holder's security interest.
925925 (b) The holder may offer to provide insurance on a
926926 commercial vehicle purchased under a retail installment
927927 transaction and accessories and related goods subject to the
928928 holder's security interest, regardless of whether the holder
929929 requires a retail buyer to insure the commercial vehicle.
930930 (c) The insurance required by the holder, and the premiums
931931 or charges for any insurance that is provided by the holder, must
932932 bear a reasonable relationship to:
933933 (1) the amount, term, and conditions of the retail
934934 installment contract; and
935935 (2) the existing hazards or risk of loss, damage, or
936936 destruction.
937937 (d) Any insurance under this section may not:
938938 (1) cover unusual or exceptional risks; or
939939 (2) provide coverage not ordinarily included in
940940 policies issued to the public or for commercial purposes.
941941 (e) The holder may include the cost of the insurance as a
942942 separate charge in the contract.
943943 Sec. 353.202. CREDIT LIFE AND CREDIT HEALTH AND ACCIDENT
944944 INSURANCE. (a) A holder may require a retail buyer to provide
945945 credit life insurance and credit health and accident insurance.
946946 (b) The holder may offer to provide credit life insurance
947947 and credit health and accident insurance, regardless of whether the
948948 holder requires a retail buyer to provide the insurance under
949949 Subsection (a).
950950 (c) A retail seller may offer involuntary unemployment
951951 insurance to the buyer at the time the contract is negotiated or
952952 executed.
953953 (d) A holder may include the cost of insurance provided
954954 under this section, and a policy or agent fee charged in connection
955955 with insurance provided under Subsection (b) or (c), as a separate
956956 charge in the contract.
957957 Sec. 353.203. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF CREDIT LIFE AND CREDIT
958958 HEALTH AND ACCIDENT COVERAGE. (a) At any time the total amount of
959959 the policies of credit life insurance in force on one retail buyer
960960 on one retail installment contract may not exceed:
961961 (1) the total amount repayable under the contract; and
962962 (2) the greater of the scheduled or actual amount of
963963 unpaid indebtedness if the indebtedness is repayable in
964964 substantially equal installments.
965965 (b) At any time the total amount of the policies of credit
966966 health and accident insurance in force on one retail buyer on one
967967 retail installment contract may not exceed the total amount payable
968968 under the contract, and the amount of each periodic indemnity
969969 payment may not exceed the scheduled periodic payment on the
970970 indebtedness.
971971 Sec. 353.204. INSURANCE STATEMENT. (a) If insurance is
972972 required in connection with a retail installment contract, the
973973 holder shall give to the retail buyer a written statement that
974974 clearly and conspicuously states that:
975975 (1) insurance is required in connection with the
976976 contract; and
977977 (2) the buyer as an option may furnish the required
978978 insurance through:
979979 (A) an existing policy of insurance owned or
980980 controlled by the buyer; or
981981 (B) an insurance policy obtained through an
982982 insurance company authorized to do business in this state.
983983 (b) A statement under Subsection (a) may be provided with or
984984 as part of the retail installment contract or separately.
985985 Sec. 353.205. STATEMENT IF LIABILITY INSURANCE NOT INCLUDED
986986 IN CONTRACT. If liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and
987987 property damage caused to others is not included in a retail
988988 installment contract, the retail installment contract or a separate
989989 writing must contain, in at least 10-point type that is boldfaced,
990990 capitalized, underlined, or otherwise conspicuously set out from
991991 the surrounding written material, a specific statement that
992992 liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage
993993 caused to others is not included.
994994 Sec. 353.206. BUYER'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF
995995 INSURANCE. (a) If a retail buyer fails to present to the holder
996996 reasonable evidence that the buyer has obtained or maintained a
997997 coverage required by the retail installment contract, the holder
998998 may:
999999 (1) obtain substitute insurance coverage that is
10001000 substantially equal to or more limited than the coverage required;
10011001 and
10021002 (2) add the amount of the premium advanced for the
10031003 substitute insurance to the unpaid balance of the contract.
10041004 (b) Substitute insurance coverage under Subsection (a)(1):
10051005 (1) may at the holder's option be limited to coverage
10061006 only of the interest of the holder or the interest of the holder and
10071007 the buyer; and
10081008 (2) must be written at lawful rates in accordance with
10091009 the Insurance Code by a company authorized to do business in this
10101010 state.
10111011 (c) If substitute insurance is obtained by the holder under
10121012 Subsection (a), the amendment adding the premium or rescheduling
10131013 the contract is not required to be signed by the retail buyer. The
10141014 holder shall deliver to the buyer or send to the buyer's most recent
10151015 address shown on the records of the holder specific written notice
10161016 that the holder has obtained substitute insurance.
10171017 Sec. 353.207. CHARGES FOR OTHER INSURANCE AND FORMS OF
10181018 PROTECTION INCLUDED IN RETAIL INSTALLMENT CONTRACT. (a) A retail
10191019 installment contract may include as a separate charge an amount for
10201020 insurance coverage that is:
10211021 (1) for a risk of loss or liability reasonably related
10221022 to:
10231023 (A) the commercial vehicle;
10241024 (B) the use of the commercial vehicle; or
10251025 (C) goods or services that:
10261026 (i) are related to the commercial vehicle;
10271027 and
10281028 (ii) may ordinarily be insured with a
10291029 commercial vehicle;
10301030 (2) written on policies or endorsement forms
10311031 prescribed or approved by the commissioner of insurance; and
10321032 (3) ordinarily available in policies or endorsements
10331033 offered to the public or for commercial purposes.
10341034 (b) A retail installment contract may include as a separate
10351035 charge an amount for:
10361036 (1) motor vehicle property damage or bodily injury
10371037 liability insurance;
10381038 (2) mechanical breakdown insurance;
10391039 (3) participation in a motor vehicle theft protection
10401040 plan;
10411041 (4) insurance to pay all or part of the amount computed
10421042 by subtracting the proceeds of the retail buyer's basic collision
10431043 policy on the commercial vehicle from the amount owed on the vehicle
10441044 in the event of a total loss or theft of the vehicle;
10451045 (5) a warranty or service contract relating to the
10461046 commercial vehicle;
10471047 (6) an identity recovery service contract defined by
10481048 Section 1306.003, Occupations Code; or
10491049 (7) a debt cancellation agreement.
10501050 (c) Notwithstanding any other law, service contracts and
10511051 debt cancellation agreements sold by a retail seller of a
10521052 commercial vehicle to a retail buyer are not subject to Chapter 101
10531053 or 226, Insurance Code.
10541054 (d) In addition to the charges for insurance coverage
10551055 permitted under Subsection (a) or (b), a retail installment
10561056 contract may include a charge for insurance coverage relating to:
10571057 (1) the commercial vehicle;
10581058 (2) the use of the commercial vehicle; or
10591059 (3) the retail installment contract.
10601060 (e) Insurance coverage under Subsection (d) may be provided
10611061 only by:
10621062 (1) an insurer authorized under the Insurance Code to
10631063 engage in the business of insurance in this state; or
10641064 (2) if permitted under the Insurance Code, a surplus
10651065 lines insurer eligible to provide the insurance under Chapter 981,
10661066 Insurance Code.
10671067 (f) A retail installment contract must set forth the amount
10681068 of each charge for insurance coverage under Subsection (d) and the
10691069 type of the coverage provided for that charge.
10701070 Sec. 353.208. HOLDER'S DUTY IF INSURANCE IS ADJUSTED OR
10711071 TERMINATED. (a) If insurance for which a charge is included in or
10721072 added to a retail installment contract is canceled, adjusted, or
10731073 terminated, the holder shall, at the holder's option:
10741074 (1) apply the amount of the refund for unearned
10751075 insurance premiums received by the holder to replace required
10761076 insurance coverage; or
10771077 (2) credit the refund to the final maturing
10781078 installments of the retail installment contract.
10791079 (b) If the amount to be applied or credited under Subsection
10801080 (a) is more than the amount unpaid on the retail installment
10811081 contract, the holder shall refund to the retail buyer the
10821082 difference between those amounts.
10831083 (c) A cash refund is not required under this section if the
10841084 amount of the refund is less than $1.
10851085 Sec. 353.209. GAIN OR ADVANTAGE FROM INSURANCE NOT
10861086 ADDITIONAL CHARGE. Any gain or advantage to the holder or the
10871087 holder's employee, officer, director, agent, general agent,
10881088 affiliate, or associate from insurance or the provision or sale of
10891089 insurance under this subchapter is not an additional charge or
10901090 additional time price differential in connection with a retail
10911091 installment contract except as specifically provided by this
10921092 chapter.
10931093 Sec. 353.210. ADDING TO RETAIL INSTALLMENT CONTRACT
10941094 PREMIUMS FOR INSURANCE ACQUIRED AFTER TRANSACTION. (a) A retail
10951095 buyer and holder may agree to add to the unpaid balance of a retail
10961096 installment contract premiums for insurance policies obtained
10971097 after the date of the retail installment transaction for coverages
10981098 of the types allowed under Sections 353.201, 353.202, and 353.207,
10991099 including premiums for the renewal of a policy included in the
11001100 contract.
11011101 (b) A policy of insurance described by Subsection (a) must
11021102 comply with the requirements of Sections 353.201, 353.202, 353.203,
11031103 and 353.207, as applicable.
11041104 Sec. 353.211. EFFECT OF ADDING PREMIUM TO CONTRACT. If a
11051105 premium is added to the unpaid balance of a retail installment
11061106 contract under Section 353.206 or 353.210, the rate applicable to
11071107 the time price differential agreed to in the retail installment
11081108 contract remains in effect and shall be applied to the new unpaid
11091109 balance, or the contract may be rescheduled in accordance with
11101110 Sections 353.114 and 353.115, without reclassifying the commercial
11111111 vehicle by its year model at the time of the amendment.
11121112 Sec. 353.212. FINANCING ENTITY MAY NOT REQUIRE INSURANCE
11131113 FROM PARTICULAR SOURCE. If a retail installment contract presented
11141114 to a financing entity for acceptance includes any insurance
11151115 coverage, the financing entity may not directly or indirectly
11161116 require, as a condition of its agreement to finance the commercial
11171117 vehicle, that the retail buyer purchase the insurance coverage from
11181118 a particular source.
11191119 [Sections 353.213-353.300 reserved for expansion]
11201120 SUBCHAPTER D. ACQUISITION OF CONTRACT OR BALANCE
11211121 Sec. 353.301. AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE. A person may acquire a
11221122 retail installment contract or an outstanding balance under a
11231123 contract from another person on the terms, including the price, to
11241124 which they agree. Notwithstanding any other law of this state, a
11251125 person acquiring or assigning a retail installment contract, or any
11261126 balance under a contract, does not have a duty to disclose to any
11271127 other person the terms on which a contract or balance under a
11281128 contract is acquired or assigned, including the consideration for
11291129 the acquisition or assignment and any discount or difference
11301130 between the rates, charges, or balance under the contract and the
11311131 consideration rates, charges, or balance acquired or assigned, as
11321132 applicable.
11331133 Sec. 353.302. LACK OF NOTICE DOES NOT AFFECT VALIDITY AS TO
11341134 CERTAIN CREDITORS. Notice to a retail buyer of an assignment or
11351135 negotiation of a retail installment contract or an outstanding
11361136 balance under the contract or a requirement that the retail seller
11371137 be deprived of dominion over payments on a retail installment
11381138 contract or over the commercial vehicle if returned to or
11391139 repossessed by the retail seller is not necessary for a written
11401140 assignment or negotiation of the contract or balance to be valid as
11411141 against a creditor, subsequent purchaser, pledgee, mortgagee, or
11421142 lien claimant of the retail seller.
11431143 Sec. 353.303. PAYMENT BY BUYER. Unless a retail buyer has
11441144 notice of the assignment or negotiation of the buyer's retail
11451145 installment contract or an outstanding balance under the contract,
11461146 a payment by the buyer to the most recent holder known to the buyer
11471147 is binding on all subsequent holders.
11481148 [Sections 353.304-353.400 reserved for expansion]
11491149 SUBCHAPTER E. HOLDER'S RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND LIMITATIONS
11501150 Sec. 353.401. SELLER'S PROMISE TO PAY OR TENDER OF CASH TO
11511151 BUYER AS PART OF TRANSACTION. A retail seller may not promise to
11521152 pay, pay, or otherwise tender cash to a retail buyer as a part of a
11531153 transaction under this chapter unless specifically authorized by
11541154 this chapter.
11551155 Sec. 353.402. SELLER'S ACTION FOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM OR TO
11561156 PAY FOR BUYER'S MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) A retail seller may pay,
11571157 promise to pay, or tender cash or another thing of value to the
11581158 manufacturer, distributor, or retail buyer of the product if the
11591159 payment, promise, or tender is made in order to participate in a
11601160 financial incentive program offered by the manufacturer or
11611161 distributor of the vehicle to the buyer.
11621162 (b) A retail seller, in connection with a retail installment
11631163 transaction, may:
11641164 (1) advance money to retire:
11651165 (A) an amount owed against a motor vehicle used
11661166 as a trade-in or a motor vehicle owned by the buyer that has been
11671167 declared a total loss by the buyer's insurer; or
11681168 (B) the retail buyer's outstanding obligation
11691169 under a motor vehicle lease contract, a credit transaction for the
11701170 purchase of a motor vehicle, or another retail installment
11711171 transaction; and
11721172 (2) finance repayment of that money in a retail
11731173 installment contract.
11741174 (c) A retail seller may pay in cash to the retail buyer any
11751175 portion of the net cash value of a motor vehicle owned by the buyer
11761176 and used as a trade-in in a transaction involving the sale of a
11771177 commercial vehicle. In this subsection, "net cash value" means the
11781178 cash value of a motor vehicle after payment of all amounts secured
11791179 by the motor vehicle.
11801180 Sec. 353.403. STATEMENT OF PAYMENTS AND AMOUNT DUE UNDER
11811181 CONTRACT. (a) On written request of a retail buyer, the holder of a
11821182 retail installment contract shall give or send to the buyer a
11831183 written statement of the dates and amounts of payments and the total
11841184 amount unpaid under the contract.
11851185 (b) A retail buyer is entitled to one statement during a
11861186 six-month period without charge. The charge for each additional
11871187 requested statement may not exceed $1.
11881188 Sec. 353.404. RECEIPT FOR CASH PAYMENT. A holder of a
11891189 retail installment contract shall give the retail buyer a written
11901190 receipt for each cash payment.
11911191 Sec. 353.405. OUTSTANDING BALANCE INFORMATION; PAYMENT IN
11921192 FULL. (a) The holder of a retail installment contract who gives
11931193 the retail buyer or the buyer's designee outstanding balance
11941194 information relating to the contract is bound by that information
11951195 and shall honor that information for a reasonable time.
11961196 (b) If the retail buyer or the buyer's designee tenders to
11971197 the holder as payment in full an amount derived from that
11981198 outstanding balance information, the holder shall:
11991199 (1) accept the amount as payment in full; and
12001200 (2) release the holder's lien against the commercial
12011201 vehicle within a reasonable time not later than the 10th day after
12021202 the date on which the amount is tendered.
12031203 (c) A retail seller must pay in full the outstanding balance
12041204 of a vehicle traded in to the retail seller as part of the retail
12051205 installment transaction not later than the 25th day after the date
12061206 that:
12071207 (1) the retail installment contract is signed by the
12081208 retail buyer and the retail buyer receives delivery of the
12091209 commercial vehicle; and
12101210 (2) the retail seller receives delivery of the motor
12111211 vehicle traded in and the necessary and appropriate documents to
12121212 transfer title from the buyer.
12131213 Sec. 353.406. LIABILITY RELATING TO OUTSTANDING BALANCE
12141214 INFORMATION. A holder who violates Section 353.405 is liable to the
12151215 retail buyer or the buyer's designee in an amount computed by
12161216 adding:
12171217 (1) three times the difference between the amount
12181218 tendered and the amount sought by the holder at the time of tender;
12191219 (2) interest;
12201220 (3) reasonable attorney's fees; and
12211221 (4) costs.
12221222 Sec. 353.407. PROHIBITION ON POWER OF ATTORNEY TO CONFESS
12231223 JUDGMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF WAGES. A retail installment contract may
12241224 not contain:
12251225 (1) a power of attorney to confess judgment in this
12261226 state; or
12271227 (2) an assignment of wages.
12281228 Sec. 353.408. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN ACTS OF REPOSSESSION.
12291229 A retail installment contract may not:
12301230 (1) authorize the holder or a person acting on the
12311231 holder's behalf to:
12321232 (A) enter the retail buyer's premises in
12331233 violation of Chapter 9, Business & Commerce Code; or
12341234 (B) commit a breach of the peace in the
12351235 repossession of the commercial vehicle; or
12361236 (2) contain, or provide for the execution of, a power
12371237 of attorney by the retail buyer appointing, as the buyer's agent in
12381238 the repossession of the vehicle, the holder or a person acting on
12391239 the holder's behalf.
12401240 Sec. 353.409. BUYER'S WAIVER. (a) A retail installment
12411241 contract may not:
12421242 (1) provide for a waiver of the retail buyer's rights
12431243 of action against the holder or a person acting on the holder's
12441244 behalf for an illegal act committed in:
12451245 (A) the collection of payments under the
12461246 contract; or
12471247 (B) the repossession of the commercial vehicle;
12481248 or
12491249 (2) provide that the retail buyer agrees not to assert
12501250 against the holder a claim or defense arising out of the sale.
12511251 (b) An act or agreement of the retail buyer before or at the
12521252 time of the making of a retail installment contract or a purchase
12531253 under the contract does not waive any provision of this chapter.
12541254 Sec. 353.410. TRANSFER OF EQUITY. (a) With the written
12551255 consent of the holder, a retail buyer may transfer at any time the
12561256 buyer's equity in the commercial vehicle subject to the retail
12571257 installment contract to another person.
12581258 (b) The holder may charge for the transfer of equity an
12591259 amount that does not exceed:
12601260 (1) $25 for a commercial vehicle that is not a heavy
12611261 commercial vehicle; or
12621262 (2) $50 for a heavy commercial vehicle.
12631263 [Sections 353.411-353.500 reserved for expansion]
12641264 SUBCHAPTER F. LICENSING; ADMINISTRATION OF CHAPTER
12651265 Sec. 353.501. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not act
12661266 as a holder under this chapter unless the person:
12671267 (1) is an authorized lender or a credit union; or
12681268 (2) holds a license issued under Chapter 348 or this
12691269 chapter.
12701270 (b) A person who is required to hold a license under this
12711271 chapter must ensure that each office at which retail installment
12721272 transactions are made, serviced, held, or collected under this
12731273 chapter is licensed or otherwise authorized to make, service, hold,
12741274 or collect retail installment transactions in accordance with this
12751275 chapter and rules implementing this chapter.
12761276 (c) A person may not use any device, subterfuge, or pretense
12771277 to evade the application of this section.
12781278 Sec. 353.502. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) The
12791279 application for a license under this chapter must:
12801280 (1) be under oath;
12811281 (2) identify the applicant's principal parties in
12821282 interest; and
12831283 (3) contain other relevant information that the
12841284 commissioner requires.
12851285 (b) On the filing of a license application, the applicant
12861286 shall pay to the commissioner:
12871287 (1) an investigation fee not to exceed $200; and
12881288 (2) for the license's year of issuance, a license fee
12891289 in an amount determined as provided by Section 14.107.
12901290 Sec. 353.503. INVESTIGATION OF APPLICATION. On the filing
12911291 of an application and payment of the required fees, the
12921292 commissioner shall conduct an investigation to determine whether to
12931293 issue the license.
12941294 Sec. 353.504. APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF APPLICATION. (a) The
12951295 commissioner shall approve the application and issue to the
12961296 applicant a license under this chapter if the commissioner finds
12971297 that the financial responsibility, experience, character, and
12981298 general fitness of the applicant are sufficient to:
12991299 (1) command the confidence of the public; and
13001300 (2) warrant the belief that the business will be
13011301 operated lawfully and fairly, within the purposes of this chapter.
13021302 (b) If the commissioner does not find the eligibility
13031303 requirements of Subsection (a), the commissioner shall notify the
13041304 applicant.
13051305 (c) If an applicant requests a hearing on the application
13061306 not later than the 30th day after the date of notification under
13071307 Subsection (b), the applicant is entitled to a hearing not later
13081308 than the 60th day after the date of the request.
13091309 (d) The commissioner shall approve or deny the application
13101310 not later than the 60th day after the date of the filing of a
13111311 completed application with payment of the required fees, or if a
13121312 hearing is held, after the date of the completion of the hearing on
13131313 the application. The commissioner and the applicant may agree to a
13141314 later date in writing.
13151315 Sec. 353.505. DISPOSITION OF FEES ON DENIAL OF APPLICATION.
13161316 If the commissioner denies the application, the commissioner shall
13171317 retain the investigation fee and shall return to the applicant the
13181318 license fee submitted with the application.
13191319 Sec. 353.506. ANNUAL LICENSE FEE. Not later than December
13201320 1, a license holder shall pay to the commissioner for each license
13211321 held an annual fee for the year beginning the next January 1, in an
13221322 amount determined as provided by Section 14.107.
13231323 Sec. 353.507. EXPIRATION OF LICENSE ON FAILURE TO PAY
13241324 ANNUAL FEE. If the annual fee for a license is not paid before the
13251325 16th day after the date on which the written notice of delinquency
13261326 of payment has been given to the license holder, the license expires
13271327 on the later of:
13281328 (1) that day; or
13291329 (2) December 31 of the last year for which an annual
13301330 fee was paid.
13311331 Sec. 353.508. LICENSE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION. After
13321332 notice and a hearing the commissioner may suspend or revoke a
13331333 license if the commissioner finds that:
13341334 (1) the license holder failed to pay the annual
13351335 license fee, an investigation fee, or another charge imposed by the
13361336 commissioner;
13371337 (2) the license holder, knowingly or without the
13381338 exercise of due care, violated this chapter or a rule adopted or
13391339 order issued under this chapter; or
13401340 (3) a fact or condition exists that, if it had existed
13411341 or had been known to exist at the time of the original application
13421342 for the license, clearly would have justified the commissioner's
13431343 denial of the application.
13441344 Sec. 353.509. REINSTATEMENT OF SUSPENDED LICENSE; ISSUANCE
13451345 OF NEW LICENSE AFTER REVOCATION. The commissioner may reinstate a
13461346 suspended license or issue a new license on application to a person
13471347 whose license has been revoked if at the time of the reinstatement
13481348 or issuance no fact or condition exists that clearly would have
13491349 justified the commissioner's denial of an original application for
13501350 the license.
13511351 Sec. 353.510. SURRENDER OF LICENSE. A license holder may
13521352 surrender a license issued under this chapter by delivering to the
13531353 commissioner:
13541354 (1) the license; and
13551355 (2) a written notice of the license's surrender.
13561356 Sec. 353.511. EFFECT OF LICENSE SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, OR
13571357 SURRENDER. (a) The suspension, revocation, or surrender of a
13581358 license issued under this chapter does not affect the obligation of
13591359 a contract between the license holder and a retail buyer entered
13601360 into before the suspension, revocation, or surrender.
13611361 (b) Surrender of a license does not affect the license
13621362 holder's civil or criminal liability for an act committed before
13631363 surrender.
13641364 Sec. 353.512. TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF LICENSE. A license
13651365 may be transferred or assigned only with the approval of the
13661366 commissioner.
13671367 Sec. 353.513. ADOPTION OF RULES. (a) The finance
13681368 commission may adopt rules to enforce this chapter.
13691369 (b) The commissioner shall recommend proposed rules to the
13701370 finance commission.
13711371 Sec. 353.514. GENERAL INVESTIGATION. To discover a
13721372 violation of this chapter or to obtain information required under
13731373 this chapter, the commissioner or the commissioner's
13741374 representative may investigate the records, including books,
13751375 accounts, papers, and correspondence, of a person, including a
13761376 license holder, who the commissioner has reasonable cause to
13771377 believe is violating this chapter, regardless of whether the person
13781378 claims to not be subject to this chapter.
13791379 Sec. 353.515. SHARING OF INFORMATION. To ensure consistent
13801380 enforcement of law and minimization of regulatory burdens, the
13811381 commissioner and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may share
13821382 information, including criminal history information, relating to a
13831383 person licensed under this chapter. Information otherwise
13841384 confidential remains confidential after it is shared under this
13851385 section.
13861386 SECTION 18. Section 411.095, Government Code, is amended to
13871387 read as follows:
13881388 Sec. 411.095. ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD
13891389 INFORMATION: CONSUMER CREDIT COMMISSIONER. The consumer credit
13901390 commissioner is entitled to obtain from the department criminal
13911391 history record information that relates to a person who is an
13921392 applicant for or holder of a license under Chapter 342, 347, 348,
13931393 351, 353, or 371, Finance Code.
13941394 SECTION 19. Section 1304.003(b), Occupations Code, is
13951395 amended to read as follows:
13961396 (b) A service contract may also provide for:
13971397 (1) incidental payment or indemnity under limited
13981398 circumstances, including towing, rental, and emergency road
13991399 service;
14001400 (2) the repair or replacement of a product for damage
14011401 resulting from a power surge or for accidental damage incurred in
14021402 handling the product; or
14031403 (3) identity recovery, as defined by Section 1306.002,
14041404 if the service contract is financed under Chapter 348 or 353,
14051405 Finance Code.
14061406 SECTION 20. Section 1306.003, Occupations Code, is amended
14071407 to read as follows:
14081408 Sec. 1306.003. IDENTITY RECOVERY SERVICE CONTRACT. In this
14091409 chapter, "identity recovery service contract" means an agreement:
14101410 (1) to provide identity recovery;
14111411 (2) that is entered into for a separately stated
14121412 consideration and for a specified term; and
14131413 (3) that is financed through a retail installment
14141414 contract under Chapter 348 or 353, Finance Code.
14151415 SECTION 21. Section 2305.007(b), Occupations Code, is
14161416 amended to read as follows:
14171417 (b) For the purposes of tracing or locating a stolen motor
14181418 vehicle on the premises of a person engaging in a business or
14191419 activity regulated under this chapter who is also licensed under
14201420 Chapter 348 or 353, Finance Code, only an officer of the Department
14211421 of Public Safety may at a reasonable time:
14221422 (1) enter the premises of the person's business; and
14231423 (2) inspect or copy any document, record, vehicle,
14241424 part, or other item regulated under:
14251425 (A) this chapter; or
14261426 (B) Chapter 348 or 353, Finance Code.
14271427 SECTION 22. Section 2306.003(c), Occupations Code, is
14281428 amended to read as follows:
14291429 (c) A vehicle protection product may also include identity
14301430 recovery, as defined by Section 1306.002, if the vehicle protection
14311431 product is financed under Chapter 348 or 353, Finance Code.
14321432 SECTION 23. Section 152.002(b), Tax Code, is amended to
14331433 read as follows:
14341434 (b) "Total consideration" does not include:
14351435 (1) a cash discount;
14361436 (2) a full cash or credit refund to a customer of the
14371437 sales price of a motor vehicle returned to the seller;
14381438 (3) the amount charged for labor or service rendered
14391439 in installing, applying, remodeling, or repairing the motor vehicle
14401440 sold;
14411441 (4) a financing, carrying, or service charge or
14421442 interest on credit extended on a motor vehicle sold under a
14431443 conditional sale or other deferred payment contract;
14441444 (5) the value of a motor vehicle taken by a seller as
14451445 all or a part of the consideration for sale of another motor
14461446 vehicle, including any cash payment to the buyer under Section
14471447 348.404 or 353.402, Finance Code;
14481448 (6) a charge for transportation of the motor vehicle
14491449 after a sale;
14501450 (7) motor vehicle inventory tax; or
14511451 (8) an amount made available to the customer under
14521452 Subchapter G, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code.
14531453 SECTION 24. Section 501.115(a), Transportation Code, is
14541454 amended to read as follows:
14551455 (a) When a debt or claim secured by a lien has been
14561456 satisfied, the lienholder shall, within a reasonable time not to
14571457 exceed the maximum time allowed by Section 348.408 or 353.405(b),
14581458 Finance Code, as applicable, execute and deliver to the owner, or
14591459 the owner's designee, a discharge of the lien on a form prescribed
14601460 by the department.
14611461 SECTION 25. Section 26.342(7), Water Code, is amended to
14621462 read as follows:
14631463 (7) "Lender" means:
14641464 (A) a state or national bank;
14651465 (B) a state or federal savings and loan
14661466 association or savings bank;
14671467 (C) a credit union;
14681468 (D) a state or federal agency that customarily
14691469 provides financing; or
14701470 (E) an entity that is registered with the Office
14711471 of Consumer Credit Commissioner pursuant to Chapter 348 or 353,
14721472 Finance Code, if the entity is regularly engaged in the business of
14731473 extending credit and if extending credit represents the majority of
14741474 the entity's total business activity.
14751475 SECTION 26. The following provisions of the Finance Code
14761476 are repealed:
14771477 (1) Section 348.007(a-2), as added by Chapter 238
14781478 (S.B. 1965), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009;
14791479 (2) Section 348.007(a-2), as added by Chapter 676
14801480 (H.B. 2438), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009;
14811481 and
14821482 (3) Sections 348.0051, 348.006(j), 348.120(c), and
14831483 348.208(d), (e), and (f).
14841484 SECTION 27. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
14851485 * * * * *